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Hotlips Spider Crab
Achaeopsis spinulosa
Achaeopsis spinulosa, the hotlips spider crab, is a species of crab in the family Inachidae, found only around the South African coast. It is the only species in the genus Achaeopsis.
From the article Achaeopsis on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
Achaeopsis spinulosa is commonly known as the hotlips spider crab because of the vivid red marking around its mouth. It is a small spider crab with relatively long, but quite sturdy legs. It may grow to 70 millimetres (2.8 in) across. Its carapace is rounded, tapering to a blunt tip. Its pincers are raggedly striped in white and red.
Range & habitat
The crab is found from False Bay to Durban, subtidally to 43 metres (141 ft). It is endemic to this region.
Wikipedia: “Distribution”
What it does
The crab decorates its body with sponges, hydroids, or algae, improving its camouflage. It is rarely seen without some form of decoration. It is often found among striped anemones and on sea fans.
== References ==
Wikipedia: “Ecology”
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
Drag the globe to turn it. Dots are where records exist, not a range map; darker means more records.
In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Achaeopsis spinulosa in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 934893.